Commissioners acquire land needed for emergency service radio towers

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Lebanon County Commissioners on Thursday signed two real estate agreements needed to operate public safety radio towers that are links in the county’s emergency radio network.

After a briefing from county attorney Matt Bugli, commissioners agreed to buy 1.219 acres of land in Union Township from John and Susan Lehman and the Pilgrim Mennonite Conference for $100,000. The county plans to erect a radio tower on the land that will be part of the countywide communication system operated by the Department of Emergency Services.

Read More: County to build 7 new towers, distribute 2,000 radios in communications overhaul

In a second transaction, commissioners agreed to pay Jeremy Rehm $5,000 to acquire an easement over land Rehm owns on Palm Avenue in South Annville Township. The county will use the easement for access to an existing radio tower on land it already owns near Route 241. The same parties will also sign a related agreement where the county will pay Rehm another $5,864.92 to install fencing or screening plants at the easement property.

An easement is the legal right to use someone else’s land for a specific purpose. Rehm will remain the owner of the land.

Finally, commissioners formally acknowledged Fulton Bank’s resignation as trustee of the Clarence Schock Memorial Park at Governor Dick Trust, and First Citizens Bank’s agreement to take over as trustee. That trust is one of two charged with overseeing Governor Dick Park. The county is trustee of the other.

In other business:

• County treasurer Sallie Neuin reported that the county had $6,058,828.28 in its coffers on April 30.
• Human Resources director Michelle Snavely announced a number of resignations, terminations, new hires, status changes, transfers, and promotions of county employees.
• At the request of District Attorney Pier Hess Graf, commissioners issued a proclamation recognizing May 11 through 17 as National Police Week, and May 13 as Police Officers’ Memorial Day in the county. Hess Graf said a ceremony to honor fallen officers will be held at 10 a.m. on May 13 at the Lebanon County Department of Emergency Services building, 1805 Cornwall Road, Lebanon.
• Commissioners approved real estate property tax exemptions for 12 county veterans.

Lebanon County Commissioners meet the first and third Thursday of each month at 9:30 a.m. in Room 207 of the Lebanon County municipal building, 400 S. 8th St., Lebanon.